![]() Efforts to improve the quality of clinical handoffs must enhance the quality of both written and verbal signouts. ![]() Guidelines for safe handoffs focus on standardizing the signout mechanism. (For more information, see the related Primer " Medication Reconciliation.") Implementing Effective Handoff and Signout Protocols To avert this problem, hospitals are required to "reconcile" medications across the continuum of care. The seemingly straightforward act of communicating an accurate medication list is a well-recognized source of error. One study found that being cared for by a covering resident was a risk factor for preventable adverse events more recently, communication failures between providers have been found to be a leading cause of preventable error in studies of closed malpractice claims affecting emergency physicians and trainees. ![]() Handoffs and signouts have been linked to adverse clinical events in settings ranging from the emergency department to the intensive care unit. For information about safety issues at the time of hospital discharge, please see the related Patient Safety Primer Adverse Events after Hospital Discharge.) ![]() (This Primer will discuss handoffs and signouts in the context of transfers of care during hospitalization. The process of transferring responsibility for care is referred to as the "handoff," with the term "signout" used to refer to the act of transmitting information about the patient. Effects of critical care nurses' work hours on vigilance and patients' safety. Source: Scott LD, Rogers AE, Hwang WT, Zhang Y. ![]()
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